Lady Jaguars bring speed, good ball movement

Coach Ben West said the McCrory Lady Jaguars have improved over the summer, and the team’s work ethic is second to none. “I felt we gave up too many second shots last year. We are attacking all areas this year. We have a tremendous work ethic, and attitudes are great. Overall, we are better in every aspect from last year,” he said. The team placed second in the conference last year, he said, and made it to region for the first time since 1999. West said the 2A-3 team had a record of 18-8 last year and will enter the season with two returning starters: seniors Lexie Eppes and Madison Reeves. “Lexie Eppes is our top scorer returning from last year. Madison Reeves is just behind Lexie in scoring and leads the team in charges taken. Both have really improved over the summer, so we are expecting these two seniors to lead the team in every aspect of the game,” he said. West said Eppes averaged over 10 points per game last year, moves well and is a very talented player. Reeves is an extremely hard worker who works well in both inside and outside positions, he said. “Jameka Harston has picked up her game as well. She works inside and out, scoring from both areas consistently. Daazha Corneilious is our new point guard moving into that position, and she is our fastest player and does a great job distributing the ball,” he said. Other key players include junior Kynley Dozier, sophomores Krisha Hendrix and Trystan Norman, and junior Grace Immel, he said. “Kynley Dozier is still a question mark. Her knee is being checked this week in hopes we can get her back into the post area. She is a junior and was very effective inside last year,” West said. Team strengths are speed and ball movement, he said, but the team is working to improve its rebounding daily. West said the game to watch this season will be Earle, and he believes that game will determine who is ranked 1 and 2 in the conference. “I believe we will be as good, if not better, than last year. Our bench players from last year have definitely developed over the summer. We also have a group of talented 10th-graders who have moved up, and we have two new move-ins who will contribute,” he said. “Our goal is to have a state appearance this year. We break down with this — team first, together, unselfish — then we finish with work hard, finish empty. So every time we hit the floor, it’s 120 percent,” he said.